A Healthcare Concern
Oct 18th, 2008 by Alex
Scheduling an appointment with a health care provider is a large pain in the ass. I now know why I need to schedule recurring appointments with these providers whether or not I’ve got a specific malady that needs to be addressed. Whether it’s a physician or dentist or any other specialist, it’s got to be easier to become known to these offices early.
I’ve got moles. I’ve had them since birth. None too horrendous or evil looking, but it’s good to keep tabs on them. My last visit to a dermatologist was four years ago, when I was living in Virginia. While that visit went well and there wasn’t anything to be concerned about, it’s been four years and I’m not about to drive to Arlington to see a specialist that I’ve only seen once.
I tried to make an appointment with a local dermatologist on Thursday. I spoke with a very nice office manager (or scheduler) who informed me with no hesitation that the earliest I could be seen was March 2009. Yes, in six months March 2009. “They must be swamped,” I thought. I haven’t seen stuff like this since back in the day with a PCP with an overworked office staff, so I said thanks and decided to call another office.
I tried to make an appointment on Friday with a larger office, this one supporting a half-dozen (or more) dermatologists. “New patient?” Yes, upon which I was informed that they were scheduling for January. I asked about when in January and I was told that they couldn’t say until they had all of my information.
Bah.
They always ask what sort of insurance. That’s the second question, right after whether you’re a new patient. Translated, “how and when are we getting paid?” I understand that health care is a business and that the physician and his/her support staff needs to be paid promptly, but I think it’s a shame that we — as consumers of these health care services and as people — are asked how we’re paying before we’re asked what we need. I don’t know whether my insurer has lower negotiated rates then other insurers or whether it’s difficult to submit claims to them, but it seems contrary to a section of the Hippocratic Oath where an affirmation is made “to keep the good of the patient as the highest priority.” Maybe physicians aren’t taking that anymore or the economics of treating patients has altered that priority. I truly hope that this sort of behavior only exists when there’s a routine and non-emergency situation (like I have here); when someone’s life is at stake I’d hope that the patient’s problem would be the primary concern.
I wonder what would happen if I called the same offices and said “Hi, I’m a new patient and would like to make an appointment.” When asked about insurance, say that I would be paying cash. I suspect that an appointment would magically open up, no doubt fueled by a lack of negotiated (read: lower) rates, prompt and simple collection. How much sooner, I’m not sure. Something to think about.
In the meantime, I think I’ll probably just schedule for January. I’ve waited four years and I don’t think another three months will hurt.
